Scottish painter Jack Vettriano dies

Renowned Scottish painter Jack Vettriano has died at the age of 73, his publicist has said.

The artist was found dead at his apartment in Nice, in the south of France, on Saturday.

It is understood there are no suspicious circumstances around his death.

Vettriano was born Jack Hoggan on 17 November 1951 in Methil, Fife.

He left school at the age of 15 to become a mining engineer but took up painting after a girlfriend gifted him a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday.

The self-taught artist learned his craft by copying old masters, impressionists, surrealists and a plethora of Scottish artists.

He drew inspiration from works at Kirkcaldy Galleries, studying paintings from artists such as Samuel Peploe and William McTaggart so intently that he feared arousing the suspicions of gallery staff.

His breakthrough came in 1998 when he submitted two paintings to the Royal Scottish Academy's annual show and both sold on the first day, inspiring him to become a full-time artist.

Vettriano's works garnered international acclaim, leading to exhibitions in cities such as Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and New York.

His 1992 painting The Singing Butler is among his most famed work, becoming a best-selling image in Britain. It shows an elegant couple dancing on a storm-swept beach accompanied by their butler and maid.

In 2004, the painting sold at auction for £744,800 - a record at the time for any Scottish painting and for any painting ever sold in Scotland.

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Among those to have acquired Vettriano paintings are Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, songwriter Sir Tim Rice, and late Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane.

His publicist said in a statement: "Jack Vettriano's passing marks the end of an era for contemporary Scottish art.

"His evocative and timeless works will continue to captivate and inspire future generations."

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney was among those to pay tribute to Vettriano.

He said: "I am very sorry to hear that one of Scotland's best-known artists, Jack Vettriano, has died, and I want to express my deepest condolences to his family.

"From humble beginnings as a self-taught artist from Methil, Jack made a unique and evocative contribution to artistic life in Scotland, rising to become a household name thanks to iconic paintings like The Singing Butler, which has graced the walls of homes and galleries around the world.

"Born and raised in Fife, much of his early exposure to art came from the Kirkcaldy Galleries, so it was fitting that some of his earliest works were exhibited there in recent years.

"Jack was also a philanthropist for a number of important causes and I know his loss will be sorely felt by many across Scotland and the world."

In a post on social media, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "Very sad news. Jack Vettriano was an iconic Scottish artist. My thoughts are with his family and friends."

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